This Charming Man

'Everybody remembers where they were the day they heard Paddy de Courcy was getting married'

But for four women in particular, the big news about the gorgeous politician is especially momentous ...

Stylist Lola has every reason to be interested in who Paddy's marrying - because although she's his girlfriend, she definitely isn't the bride-to-be. Heartbroken, she flees the city for a cottage by the sea. But will Lola's retreat prove as idyllic as she hopes?

... Not if journalist Grace has anything to do with it. She wants the inside story on the de Courcy engagement and thinks Lola holds the key to it. Grace knew Paddy a long time ago. But why can't she forget him?

Grace's sister, Marnie, might have the answer but she also has issues with the past. Her loving husband and beautiful daughters are wonderful, but they can't take away memories of her first love- a certain Paddy de Courcy. What will it take for Marnie to be able to move on?

And what of the soon-to-be Mrs de Courcy... Alicia will do anything for her fiancé and is determined to be the perfect politician's wife. But does she know the real Paddy de Courcy?

Four very different women. One awfully charming man. And the dark secret that bnds them all...

Full of laughter, full of tears, full of heart and full of life... It could only be the new Marian.

Opinion

From the critics

Community Activity

Comment

Paddy de Courcy is a politician with the charm and charisma to go far. His fiancee is a perfect political helpmeet. However, there are a number of ex-lovers who have the potential to sabotage his perfect career.

"Charming Paddy de Courcy has ridden smoothly up the ranks of Irish politics, but it hasn't been quite so smooth for the many women who've fallen for him. Told from the perspectives of four such women (including Lola, who learns that boyfriend Paddy is engaged - and not to her - from the press) we learn exactly what kind of man Paddy is. Mixing the chick-lit humour for which she is known with darker themes of depression and domestic abuse, author Marian Keyes offers a quick read with a "stunning, breathless conclusion" (Publishers Weekly)." Fiction A to Z December 2012 newsletter http://www.nextreads.com/Display2.aspx?SID=5acc8fc1-4e91-4ebe-906d-f8fc5e82a8e0&N=580458

This book wasn't the easiest read. The transitions between one character's voice and another were a bit tough, especially since Keyes chose Lola's voice to be sentence fragments and stunted. As per usual, each character has suffered a level of trauma in their lives that has manifested itself in different ways, including various degrees of depression. Although the characters all get their man, there's also a sense of victory with the downfall of the main protagonist at the very end.

Quite a good read - except for one character, Lola. when reading from her perspective, it was like listening to an idiot. I have no idea what the author was thinking but the character was English born and bred so there was no excuse for her talking like she was from old country. the rest, no problems.

I have to admit I wanted to put the book down a few times. I did not want to keep on reading about this 'so called chaming man' but I decided to see the book to the end and I am glad I did.
This is really the story of the woman who had the misfortune of encountering this charming man and how they grew stronger from it and came into their own. That is what it is really about. That is what one really wants to see - Empowerment.